piglett - 9-5-2004 at 15:06
what is a buffered asprin?
Haggis - 9-5-2004 at 15:17
Generic aspirin is acetylsalicyclic acid. The acid in the compound irritates the stomach's of a few people. Buffered aspirin contains a buffer
compound that keeps the acid level in a person's stomach closer to the usual level.
K9 - 9-5-2004 at 17:04
Just for interest, from http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/acidbase/faq/bu...
"Bufferin, for example, uses MgO. Other preparations use CaCO3."
chemoleo - 10-5-2004 at 02:20
Why not simply using the sodium salt of aspirin? Wouldn't be acidic would it?
At least, solutions thereof don't taste acidic.
Mr. Wizard - 10-5-2004 at 09:40
Why not simply using the sodium salt of aspirin? Wouldn't be acidic would it?
That is the basis of Alka Seltzer. Some of the irritation is due to the salicylates not the actual acidity of the aspirin. Even if the neutral salts
were put into the stomach, free HCl in stomach acid would soon liberate the acetalsalicylic acid, which I understand breaks down to salicylates.
Most NSA (non steroidal anti inflammatories) do cause stomach irritation.
[Edited on 11-5-2004 by Mr. Wizard]